Hello all, A couple of weeks ago, this coin was won at auction with a price of ~ 735$: MAXENTIUS AE 7.57g Follis/Nummus AV: MAXENTIVS PRINC INVICT; laureate head right REV: CONSERVATOR AFRICAE SVAE; Africa standing left, wearing elephant skin headdress and holding signum and tusk, at feet lion with captured bull; H in left field ER in right field. EXE: B REF: RIC VI Carthage 53, Sear 14943, minted only in november-december 306AD. This coin is very rare - Drost (Monnayage de Maxence, p. 283, no. 17) notes 13 specs known of the type, 4 from officina gamma and 9 from B. Another one is recorded on FORVM: http://www.forumancientcoins.com/board/index.php?topic=90385.0 The title of Princeps Invictus by itself is quite irregular for the late roman period and was used by Maxentius in order to gain favor and recognition from the legitimate tetrarchs.
Just made after he had decared as Caesar. Obv:- M AVR MAXENTIVS NOB CAES, Laureate head right Rev:- SALVIS AVGG ET CAES FEL KART, Carthage standing facing, head left, holding up fruits in both hands Struck in Carthage late 306 A.D. H in left field, Greek_Delta in exe. References:- RIC VI Carthage 51a.
I just got a Maximianus with a similar reverse type, but it's not nearly as rare: MAXIMIANUS AE Antoninianus OBVERSE: IMP MAXIMIANVS P F AVG, laureate head right REVERSE: FELIX ADVENT AVGG N N, Africa standing facing, looking left, wearing elephant-skin headdress, holding standard and elephant's tusk, lion with captured bull at feet, H in right field, mintmark PKB Struck at Carthage. AD 298 RIC VI 25b
What beautiful pieces of history. Thank you. The coin minted in Carthage is interesting since it was the revolt in Carthage (disrupting the grain supply) by Domitius Alexander that severely undermined Maxentius' rule and diminished his popularity, leading to his eventual defeat by Constantine. guy
Unfortunately I did not win this one. I was hoping it'd go a bit unnoticed but no chance. Anyways, he who won it definitely knew what he was going after
I believe coins with Maxentius as caesar and princeps were only ever issued at Carthage. Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but that's what I recall reading before. I only have the more common issue of this type as augustus, but would love a caesar or princeps.
